Criminal Behavior

CASSOPOLIS -- Cass County officials aren't looking the other way when it comes to truancy in schools. In fact, according to a news release, they've declared war on it, with the ultimate goal of eliminating truancy altogether. "Truancy has been a big issue in Cass County, and I think it's a huge issue in all places," Cass County Probate Judge Sue Dobrich said Friday. "We're trying to address things upfront rather than the back end." Local authorities said truancy can translate into several serious problems for teenagers, including delinquency, drug use, dropping out of school, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and early sex. Truancy leads to first-time drug use for 97 percent of students.

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) -- Once a month, Livingston County youth offenders get an opportunity to learn firsthand where criminal behavior can land them -- in jail -- through a program that partners them with adult probationers and parolees. It's similar to the "Scared Straight" program made famous by the 1978 documentary movie of the same name. The 16-step Moral Recogination Therapy -- known as MRT -- is a behavioral treatment program designed to teach offenders how to re-evaluate their decisions.

DOWAGIAC -- If youÂ?ve conducted business with Dowagiac Auto Sales, 57740 Michigan 51 South, since July 2006 and you believe youÂ?re the victim of criminal impropriety, authorities would like to hear from you. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said allegations of fraud, forgery and other alleged criminal behavior are under investigation at the dealership. Anyone who has conducted business at Dowagiac Auto Sales and has failed to receive the proper vehicle documentation should contact the Michigan Department of StateÂ?

Repeat customers are good if you are running a business, but not so good when you are running a jail. Since juvenile offenders often are "repeat customers," creativity is needed to break the cycle and deliver lasting solutions. The FBI this summer reported that the nation's violent crime rate increased for the first time in five years, and national media stories quoted local and national law enforcement officials who cited criminal behavior by juveniles as a main reason for the increase.

A St. Joseph inmate at a Jackson prison who is seeking release from the governor is facing possible new criminal charges, Michigan prison officials said Tuesday. Efren Paredes Jr., 36, has been serving three life sentences (two without parole) for murder and armed robbery in the shooting death of his boss, South Bend native Rick Tetzlaff, in 1989. Last year he asked for a commutation of his sentence from the Michigan Parole Board. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has been mulling the decision since August.

ELKHART -- The Elkhart Police Department hopes it's finished with the repercussions from an incident during which suggestive photos were taken of a woman in the police station lobby Nov. 22. Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill Jr. will not file criminal charges against police officers involved in the incident. And the department released copies of video of the incident taken from a video camera in the lobby. The video shows a woman wearing a short skirt who appears to have physical contact of a provocative nature with a man in uniform.

ELKHART -- The Elkhart Police Department hopes it's finished with the repercussions from an incident during which suggestive photos were taken of a woman in the police station lobby Nov. 22. Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill Jr. will not file criminal charges against police officers involved in the incident. And the department released copies of video of the incident taken from a video camera in the lobby. The video shows a woman wearing a short skirt who appears to have physical contact of a provocative nature with a man in uniform.

Three public housing tenants are fighting their eviction notices by pursuing federal lawsuits against the Housing Authority of South Bend and a Michigan City apartment complex. The women received eviction notices because of alleged criminal activity in their homes or on Housing Authority of South Bend property. But neither they nor their children committed any crimes, and they had no control over alleged criminal behavior that prompted the eviction actions, said their attorney, Kent Hull of Indiana Legal Services Inc. "Everybody here was passive, not the aggressor," Hull said.

CASSOPOLIS -- Cass County officials aren't looking the other way when it comes to truancy in schools. In fact, according to a news release, they've declared war on it, with the ultimate goal of eliminating truancy altogether. "Truancy has been a big issue in Cass County, and I think it's a huge issue in all places," Cass County Probate Judge Sue Dobrich said Friday. "We're trying to address things upfront rather than the back end." Local authorities said truancy can translate into several serious problems for teenagers, including delinquency, drug use, dropping out of school, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and early sex. Truancy leads to first-time drug use for 97 percent of students.

A St. Joseph inmate at a Jackson prison who is seeking release from the governor is facing possible new criminal charges, Michigan prison officials said Tuesday. Efren Paredes Jr., 36, has been serving three life sentences (two without parole) for murder and armed robbery in the shooting death of his boss, South Bend native Rick Tetzlaff, in 1989. Last year he asked for a commutation of his sentence from the Michigan Parole Board. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has been mulling the decision since August.

Three public housing tenants are fighting their eviction notices by pursuing federal lawsuits against the Housing Authority of South Bend and a Michigan City apartment complex. The women received eviction notices because of alleged criminal activity in their homes or on Housing Authority of South Bend property. But neither they nor their children committed any crimes, and they had no control over alleged criminal behavior that prompted the eviction actions, said their attorney, Kent Hull of Indiana Legal Services Inc. "Everybody here was passive, not the aggressor," Hull said.

ELKHART -- The Elkhart Police Department hopes it's finished with the repercussions from an incident during which suggestive photos were taken of a woman in the police station lobby Nov. 22. Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill Jr. will not file criminal charges against police officers involved in the incident. And the department released copies of video of the incident taken from a video camera in the lobby. The video shows a woman wearing a short skirt who appears to have physical contact of a provocative nature with a man in uniform.

ELKHART -- The Elkhart Police Department hopes it's finished with the repercussions from an incident during which suggestive photos were taken of a woman in the police station lobby Nov. 22. Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill Jr. will not file criminal charges against police officers involved in the incident. And the department released copies of video of the incident taken from a video camera in the lobby. The video shows a woman wearing a short skirt who appears to have physical contact of a provocative nature with a man in uniform.

DOWAGIAC -- If youÂ?ve conducted business with Dowagiac Auto Sales, 57740 Michigan 51 South, since July 2006 and you believe youÂ?re the victim of criminal impropriety, authorities would like to hear from you. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said allegations of fraud, forgery and other alleged criminal behavior are under investigation at the dealership. Anyone who has conducted business at Dowagiac Auto Sales and has failed to receive the proper vehicle documentation should contact the Michigan Department of StateÂ?

Repeat customers are good if you are running a business, but not so good when you are running a jail. Since juvenile offenders often are "repeat customers," creativity is needed to break the cycle and deliver lasting solutions. The FBI this summer reported that the nation's violent crime rate increased for the first time in five years, and national media stories quoted local and national law enforcement officials who cited criminal behavior by juveniles as a main reason for the increase.

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) -- Once a month, Livingston County youth offenders get an opportunity to learn firsthand where criminal behavior can land them -- in jail -- through a program that partners them with adult probationers and parolees. It's similar to the "Scared Straight" program made famous by the 1978 documentary movie of the same name. The 16-step Moral Recogination Therapy -- known as MRT -- is a behavioral treatment program designed to teach offenders how to re-evaluate their decisions.